Proper Easy Beef & Ale Pie - Sam Stern

Ingredients

• 600g stewing beef, we used chuck steak
• 100ml water
• 1 onion, finely sliced
• 3 celery sticks, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 slices of bacon, chopped
• 250ml good quality chicken or beef stock
• 250ml beer, we used Old Speckled Hen ale
• 4 chestnut mushrooms, sliced
• 2 large floury potatoes, chopped into 2cm chunks
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons plain flour
• 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt & black pepper
• 320g puff pastry, ready rolled